Murray O’Donnell was the embodiment of a “man o’pairts”. Panto dame, dramatist, local historian, bowler, mason, mechanic, family man and friend to those in need. The list could go on much further.
He was born in Ballewan Crescent, Blanefield in 1943 to Winifred and Charles O’Donnell, whose Irish grandfather had moved to the area in the 1860s. He was educated at the local primary school and Balfron High School and spent the bulk of his working life at Alexanders Bus Garage at Burnbrae, Milngavie.
In 1993 he was at the centre of the small group who founded Strathblane Heritage Society and he remained its guiding light for more than 25 years. But he was also a gifted poet with a passion for Old Scots. At many Burns suppers and other local events Murray would bring the house down with one of his latest humorous verses. Dae Ye Mynd Langsyne was written in 1994 and is packed with unalloyed nostalgia for the Blanefield of his youth.
Looking down on the Blane Valley from the Gowk Stane path, he recalls childhood games, like “Chap Door Run” and teasing lassies with frogs and worms, as well as missing school to harvest potatoes and bringing in the cows at Findlay’s dairy. He remembers standing at the level crossing on Station Road to watch trains and buying sweets at the Telfers’ shop further up the same road. He also delivered telegrams for Blanefield postmistress, Lena Gove.
The “filters” where kids made dens were the filter beds created in the late 19th century to limit pollution from the printworks entering the Blane Water. A special treat was a trip to the cinema in Milngavie.
Murray passed away in 2021, aged 77. Hard act to follow!
DAE YE MYND LANGSYNE
A look doun frae the Gowk Stane tae the valley o the Blane an A think of aw the things the war when A wes juist a wean. A see the bairns playin an wunner if they ken, o onie o the games we played an aye say cock or hen. The war ‘kick the can' an 'hunchie' an 'chap door rin', an if they nearly gruppit ye t wes pairt o aw the fun. Wi a puddock in a poutch an wurms in a tin, (we showed thaim tae the lassies tae gar thaim skirl an rin) we plunked the skuil tae hawk the spuds an help tae stouk the corn. A look doun frae the Gowk Stane tae the place whaur A wes born. At Finlay's o the Cuit we gethert in the kye, an stuid afore the crossing gate tae watch the train gae by, then Telfor's shop for sweeties an aw the things we'd like an tak a rin tae Stra'blane wi twa up on a bike, an Lena wi a telegram wad send ye on a trip an hope the news wes no that bad as ye waited on the tip. The war sum that duin the milk whyles ithers duin the papers an sum that duin no much at aw, their life wes fou o capers wi gang huts doun the filters an picters at Milngavie an sum duin gey awfie things that garred their mithers cry. A look doun frae the Gowk Stane tae the valley o the Blane an A think o aw the things the war when A wes juist a wean, sae play awa wee bairnies frae Blanefield an Stra'blane, for the day wul cum when you wul wush that you war juist a wean !